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Trail Crossing and Parking: 35.268524, -83.572355
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April 2022 update: Suggested access is via SR1310 . The road in from 1310 (Otter Creek Rd.) is a good dirt road. From 1310, turn at sign for Tellico Gap, and follow Otter Creek road to Gap, which is top of climb, and has parking areas bounded by railroad-tie walls. From the Nantahala Outdoor Center go west on US 19/74 (compass southwest) for 7.7 miles then go left on NC 1310 (Wayah Road). In 5 miles go left on NC 1365 (Otter Creek Road) for 4 miles to Tellico Gap. From Franklin go 4 miles west on US 64 and go right on Patton Road (NC 1442) AKA Old Murphy Road. In about a quarter mile go left on Wayah Road (NC 1310) and proceed west 23 miles to Otter Creek Road. Go right and continue as above. The are at least five small parking areas, one on either side of the road at the actual trail crossing, one further to the east and two to the west.
It is possible to access via US28 (Tellico Road) that runs from Franklin to US19 near Bryson City, but is rough and steep and requires a 4x4. 05/31/22
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10
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WardandDA @ gmail.com
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Much easier to reach from the west side than the east side, but both approaches are passable for passenger vehicles. There are just more blind switchbacks driving up from the east (Route 28) side. 11/19/22
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fijlstra @ gmail.com
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This trailhead can only be accessed from State Road 1310 which runs between US64 4 miles West of Franklin, and US19 at the Nantahala River rafting put-in location. Take 1310 to the sign for Burningtown Gap, and follow the signs. The road starts as macadam, turns to gravel, then dirt, then at the end is just a track (sometimes passable by car, sometimes only by 4-wheel, high clearance vehicle). The road ends at Burningtown Gap, and AT blazes are visible at both ends of the old orchard clearing. AT North and South match the compass here.
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Here are some more details on the route to Buringtown Gap. From the Nantahala Outdoor Center follow the directions for Tellico Gap (Mile 0.0) as far as NC 1310. Follow that road 8 miles to NC 1397, which initially follows White Oak Lane. NC 1397 soon turns right onto Cold Springs Creek Road and in about another mile bears right onto Ben Creek Road. Follow that to the end of the road in another 2.2 miles. This is supposedly in an old apple orchard.
From Franklin follow directions at Mile 0.0 to NC 1310. Follow that for 20 miles to White Oak Lane (NC 1397). Go right and proceed as above.
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Nantahala Hiking Club
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Trail Crossing and Parking: 35.222314, -83.562259:
Google Maps will easily get you to 1397, just load your directions before you leave town because there is no cell service for most of the drive. There is a turnoff onto Ben Creek Road that is easy to miss, it's on the right and kind of goes uphill off of 1397. There is a sign at this point for Burningtown Gap and pointing to the right.
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Paved the entire way until the last 2 miles where it is crushed gravel on packed sand/caliche. We made it in a rented Nissan Versa with no issues in the middle of winter and made it out in the rain. The last two miles are easier if you've driven on loose gravel before and you know how to anticipate where you need some speed to get up a hill or when to slow down. Would not recommend if snowing/ice in the forecast without a 4wd that you are comfortable with. The parking is RIGHT on the trail. You could literally drive on the trail if you were so inclined. 03/22/21 (revalidated April 2023: concur Ben Creek Road is easy to miss. There is a sign for the gap, but it was so faded it was almost illegible)
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6-8
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fsun70 @ changenypd.org
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Parking: 35.178307, -83.562567 (parking is available on both sides of the composting toilets). Our Garmin took us straight to the location
Trail Access: 35.179022, -83.562208 (SOBO goes into the woods; NOBO continues on towards the overlook tower)
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ALERT: From Jan 1 to April 1, the FSR 69 up to Wayah Bald is closed. Also There are duel markings in the area as the Appalachian Trail (White Blaze) and the Bartram Trail (yellow blaze) overlap in this area.
Follow the directions for Wayah Gap (Mile 13.5) but turn RIGHT at the gap if coming from Franklin (left if coming from US 19/74), and follow the gravel road (FS 69) for 4.3 miles to the parking area, which is just around a sharp right turn after reaching the paved path to the bald. Walk from the parking area about 300-ish feet to the paved pathway that leads to the overlook tower. In 2023, the park trash receptacle along this pathway, was white blazed and marked the divergence between NOBO and SOBO of the AT.
The composting toilets on site were squeaky clean!!! There is also a picnic area further down the summit (circular) road. 04/13/23
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15-20
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WardandDA @ gmail.com
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To reach the Sawmill Gap trail head for the Bartram Trail, follow the directions to Wayah Gap (Mile 13.5). In this case if coming from Franklin, drive west on NC 1310 for 10.7 miles to FR 711. Turn right. If coming from US 19/74 drive east on NC 1310 for 17.4 miles to FR 711 and go left. Follow FR 711 and drive 2.5 miles to a parking pullout on the left. The parking area can be seen in the satellite view on the attached map.
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Everything in this listing is book information from 'Long Trails of the Southeast' by Johhny Malloy or from http://ncbartramtrail.org?page_id=36 . The marker on the map indicates the position of the pullout. From FR 311 follow the yellow-blazed Bartram trail east for 2.0 miles to meet the AT near Wine Spring and the summit of Wine Spring Bald. The southbound AT to Wayah Gap goes right. The northbound AT and the Bartrram Trail coincide for the next 2.5 miles before the Bartram Trail diverges to the right. (From this point it is over ten miles to a road via the Bartram Trail, so access from that direction isn't really an option.) Coordinates at the Wine Spring intersection are 35.1739 -83.5839 . 06/26/14
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Several
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David Cullen
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The AT crosses FR 69, the road to Wayah Bald, 2.7 miles from the intersection of FR 69 with NC 1310 in Wayah Gap.
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Coordinates for the crossing are from http://bp2.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripid=47449 . I know nothing about this crossing other that the AT Guide to NC/GA lists it and mentions that there is a piped spring nearby. The satellite view on the attached map seems to show that parking is very limited at best. The AT overlay on the map appears to be incorrect in this area. 06/26/14
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Not known
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David Cullen
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Follow the directions to the intersection of NC 1310 and FS 69 in Wayah Gap. Follow FS 69 about 0.4 miles to a parking pull-off on the right.
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The AT comes very close to FS69 here. It is on the east side of the road (right side if coming from Wayah Gap). See pictures for TN/NC Section 23 for a view of this parking area. 06/26/14
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4-5
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David Cullen
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We found only 2 parking spots close to the AT on Wayah Road (NC 1310). But down about .5 miles oon the forest service road to Wayah Bald, we found a pull off with room for maybe 3 cars right where the AT touches the road. We almost parked on the AT.
The marker on the Wayah Road is a new metal green AT sign. 07/07/17
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3
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Caroledellinger1 @ gmail.com
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GPS: 35.153231, -83.580909
Wayah Road (state road 1310) is a very long winding paved road. It can be accessed from US 19/74 or US 64. The dirt road entrance to Wayah Gap/Crest Picnic Area parking is NOT marked and easy to miss ). Driving East it is a right hand turn (right BEFORE FS 69 to Wayah Bald) / Driving West it is a left hand turn (right AFTER FS 69 to Wayah Bald). There was an "adopt a highway" sign just before the turn in each direction. After you turn on the dirt road, stay left at the fork. 50-100 yards further you come to a circle. There is a park service sign (not visible from SR 1310) that reads Wayah Crest Trailhead. Park alongside the circle.
Another parking option is to stay right of the fork after the turn. The path is more rutted and you will end in a grassy area that has a few pulloff parking spots. If you use this option, do not block the fire road or the gate.
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While there are a few places to pull off park at the road crossing (NC 1310) of the AT at Wayah Gap, highly recommend you park at the below described picnic area in the same vicinity.
NO CELL SERVICE! From Jan 1 to April 1, the FSR 69 up to Wayah Bald is closed. The parking at the picnic area is open year round. HIGHLY RECOMMEND you research this location and view from satellite and ground level photos provided in the picture section of this webpage to have a better feel for what you are looking for. Note that this area is known as both Wayah Gap Picnic Area and Wayah Crest Trailhead. Take the stairs up to the picnic area and stay straight past the picnic tables. You will shortly arrive at the AT (this is NOT blue blazed). If you are headed North on the trail (to Section 23, turn left -- if South (to Section 24), turn right. 04/12/23
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4-8
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WardandDA @ gmail.com
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